The Prayer Door Lesson 4 Series

A. ASKING GOD’S HELP/DIRECTION WHEN FACING A DECISION

1. You must ask God to help you make the decision. “Ask and you will receive” (Matthew 7:7).

2. You must ask in Jesus’ name (through His personal intercession for you). “You can ask anything in My name and I will do it” (John 14:13, NLT).

3. You must abide and live in Jesus as you ask. “If you continually abide in Me, and My words continually abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done” (John 15:7, ELT).

4. You must obey and live the Scriptures. “We will receive what we ask, because we obey Him and do the things that please Him” (1 John 3:22, NLT).

5. You must ask with your faith in God. “Ask in faith without doubting” (James 1:6).

6. You must continue praying because you believe an answer will come. “Keep on asking and you will receive, keep on seeking … keep on knocking” (Matthew 7:7, Contemporary).

7. You must yield to God yourself and your life, as you pray for an answer. “Yield yourself to God” (Romans 6:13).

B. USING PRAYER WRONGLY WHEN FACING A DECISION

1. Not praying at all. “You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it” (James 4:2, NLT).

2. Pray with wrong motives. “When you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are wrong” (James 4:2).

3. Praying with sin in your life. “God does not hear sinners” (John 9:31). “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18).

4. Praying with doubts. “Let him ask in faith, with no doubting” (James 1:6).

5. Not yielding and living to know/do God’s will as you pray. “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:11).

6. Not abiding in Christ. “If you abide in Me … ask what ye will and it will be done” (John 15:7).

7. Praying with unbelief or scared you won’t get an answer. “Do not be scared or anxious, but by prayer and continual asking” (Philippians 4:6, ELT).

C. PRACTICAL STEPS FOR AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE

1. Make a commitment to:

a. Pray daily.

b. Length.

c. Place (can be more than one location).

d. Time of day.

2. Come to your appointment with attitude to meet Jesus.

3. Bring Bible, resources, notebook, reference books, study Bible, prayer list, devotional books, and other items to help/motivate prayer.

4. Write out list: prayer project, family, friends, business associates, Liberty University president, Dondi Costin, Thomas Road Baptist Church, Jonathan Falwell, Pastor’s Bible Class members.

5. Begin with confession of failures, sins, etc.

6. Praise/thanksgiving/worship.

7. Keep notes/diary/journal. Why? To measure your spiritual growth.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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